Apparatus for stacking flat flexible components

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for stacking generally flat, flexible components, such as garment components is disclosed. The apparatus includes at least one transversely extending header having vacuum or reduced air pressure applied thereto which holds the leading end portion of each of the advancing components and carries the components around an end portion of an elongated endless loop prior to termination of the reduced air pressure which releases the components to form a component stack. The apparatus may also include at least one second header movable around a second elongated endless loop, which is adapted to hold and advance second components that are adjacent the first components and thereafter release them to a second stack of uninverted components.

Unite Stats [1 1 [111 3,841,500 Helminen Oct. 15, 1974 1 APPARATUS FORSTACKING FLAT FLEXTBLE COMPONENTS [75] Inventor: Toivo A. Helminen,Winneconne,

Wis.

[73] Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation,

Meenah, Wis.

[22] Filed: Apr. 6, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 241,699

[52] US. Cl. 214/6 FS, 271/186, 271/196 [51] int. Cl G65g 57/04 [58]Field of Search 214/6 DS, 6 FS, 8.5 C, 214/8.5 D, 650 56; 271/186, 196,204; 198/178,179, 184, 180

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,879,597 9/1932 Banker271/79 X 2,374,668 5/1945 Davidson 271/79 X 3,197,200 7/1965 Byrt 271/74X 3,359,648 12/1967 Overly et al7 198/179 X 3,583,614 6/1971 Foster, Jr214/6 DS 3,682,469 8/1972 ltoh et a1. 214/6 FS FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 933,897 8/1963 Great Britain 271/74 Primary Examiner-FrankE. Werner Attorney, Agent, or FirmWolfe, Hubbard, Leydig,

Voit & Osann, Ltd.

[57] ABSTRACT A method and apparatus for stacking generally flat,flexible components, such garment components is disclosed. The apparatusincludes at least one transversely extending header having vacuum orreduced air pressure applied thereto which holds the leading end portionof each of the advancing components and carries the components around anend portion of an elongated endless loop prior to termination of thereduced air pressure which releases the components to form a componentstack. The apparatus may also include at least one second header movablearound a second elongated endless loop, which is adapted to hold andadvance second components that are adjacent the first components andthereafter release them to a second stack of uninverted components.

8 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PAIENK um I 51914 SHEEF 10F 3 APPARATUS FORSTACKING FLAT FLEXIBLE COMPONENTS This invention generally relates togarment production and, more specifically, relates to a method andapparatus for stacking generally flat, flexible components, such asgarment sleeves or the like for use in the fabrication of garments.

While the present invention is particularly adapted for stackinggenerally flat, flexible sleeves or similar garment components, it mayeasily be adapted for other non-garment related applications, Whereverit is desired to stack components that are being advanced along a pathin generally end-to-end relation. While such components may, of course,be stacked by workers in a production line, the step of manually liftingthe components and forming the stack is, at best, a tedious task thatengenders the usual labor problems of quality control in terms of theevenness of the resulting stack, limited production speed and otherdifficulties that are often encountered.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to providea method and apparatus for stacking generally flat, flexible componentsthat are traveling in generally end-to-end relation along a path,wherein the stacks of components are consistently and reliably formed interms of quality control, while substantially reducing the amount ofoperator time and expense and therefore reducing the element of humanerror and inconsistency.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method andapparatus for stacking such components at production line speeds thatare not consistently attainable by manual operation.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a method andapparatus for stacking generally flat, precut first components travelingin generally end-toend relation and which are also in side-by-siderelation with second components wherein the first components areinverted relative to their original orientation so that they can beplaced in other apparatus without further manipulation with regard totheir orientation.

Yet another object is to provide apparatus which is synchronized withthe movement of the components advancing toward the apparatus so that agreat variety of production speeds are attainable without requiringindependent control of the apparatus of the present invention.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from reading the ensuing specification, while referring to thedrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus of the present invention aswell as with portions of a sleeve producing machine;

FIG. 3 is a downstream end elevation of the apparatus of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the garment components that may bestacked while using the method and apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the apparatus of thepresent invention, shown with a minimum of detail;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another portion of the apparatus of thepresent invention, shown with a minimum of detail; and,

FIGS. 7 and 8 are enlarged side elevations of portions of the vacuumturrets.

While the invention will be described in connection with certainpreferred embodiments, it will be understood that it is not intended tolimit the invention to these particular embodiments. On the contrary, itis intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents asmay be included within the spirit and scope of the invention asexpressed in the appended claims.

Turning now to the drawings, and particularly FIGS. 4 and 5, theapparatus of the present invention is shown together with downstreamportions of a sleeve making apparatus which continuously produces precutsleeves for disposable gowns, such as nonwoven surgical gowns or thelike. The sleeves are produced by combining two layers of material,adhesively bonding the layers along adhesive lines 12, cutting thelayers along a diagonal cut line 14 and transverse end cut lines 16.Thus, right and left sleeves of a garment may be produced from twolayers of material having a constant width and thereby produce sleeveshaving a wide portion corresponding to the shoulder end and a narrowportion corresponding to the cuff end. Typical measurements of suchsleeve constructions may have a length of approximately 20 to 21 inches,a width of about 12 /2 inches for the shoulder end portion and about 6/2inches for the sleeve end portion. Although the portions of the sleevemaking apparatus that applies the adhesive, and performs the cuttingalong the diagonal cut line 14 are not shown herein, it is seen in FIG.5' that cooperating knife and anvil rollers 18 and 20 are shown forperforming the transverse cutting of the sleeve at the cut lines 16. Itshould be understood that upon cutting along the lines 16, the sleevesare substantially completed and are ready to be incorporated into othergarment components which complete the fabrication of the surgical gownsor the like.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown immediately upstream of theknife and anvil rollers 18 and 20 upper and lower feed rollers 22 and 24which advance the components 10A and 108 to the knife and anvil rollers.The components then advance to a transition sec tion, indicatedgenerally at 26, which may simply be a relatively short conveyormechanism or, as is shown in FIG. 1, may be a rejecting mechanism. Themechanism is shown to have a pivot point 28 and is provided with aactuating means so that the upstream end portion 30 may be elevated toprevent defective sleeves from entering the stacking apparatus of thepresent invention.

After passing through the transition section 26, the components advanceto the stacking apparatus of the present invention. Broadly stated, andreferring to FIG. 5, the components 10A come in contact with a header ormanifold that has a vacuum or reduced air pressure applied to itcreating a suction force that holds the component to the header as itadvances to a predetermined position where the vacuum is terminated andthe components are released to form a component stack. The components108 also come in contact with another vacuum header which carries thatcomponent around the end portion of an elongated endless loop so that itis inverted relative to its original position of orinents A and 108 thatare advanced downstream to come in contact with the respective headersor manifolds 32, 34 each have internal passages 36 for communicating thevacuum or reduced air pressure to the outer surface thereof. The headers32, 34 are attached to respective flexible chains 38 and 40, with thechains 38 being movable around sprockets 42 and 44 and the chains 40being movable around sprockets 46 and 48. Thus, the respective headers32 and 34 attached to their respective chains 38 and 40 are movablearound elongated endless paths. As particularly shown in FIGS. 1 and 5,the headers are substantially equally spaced around the length of theendless loops defined by the respective chains, and the distance betweensuccessive headers corresponds to the repeat length of the componentsbeing advanced. The headers contact and hold the leading end portion ofthe components by the suction created in the header passages 36. Thelength of the respective headers 32 and 34 generally correspond to thewidth of the leading end portion of the components 10A and 10B and,accordingly, the headers 32 which contact and hold the leading endportion of the components 10A are shorter than the headers 34 whichcontact the leading end portion of the components 108. In addition tothe internal passages that extend substantially the length of theheaders, the reduced air pressure is communicated to the respectivecomponents by outward tubular or cylindrical extensions 50 that arespaced along the length of the headers. As shown in FIG. 5, the headers32 have three equally spaced extensions 50 while the correspondinglylonger headers 34 have five of such extensions. The extensions enablesuitably positioned finger elements to pass between the headers and thecomponents being held which aid in releasing the components to formtherespective component stacks as will be more fully explained hereinafter.While the particular number of headers on the respective chains are notimportant except insofar as the spacing between the headers shouldcorrespond to the repeat length of the component being stacked, thelength of the endless loop defined by the chains 38 is longer than theelongated endless loop defined by the chains 40 and a total of fiveheaders 32 are attached to the chains 38 in the illustrated embodiment.Correspondingly, on the relatively shorter loop defined by the chains 40only two headers 34 are attached to the chains 40. Unlike the chains 38which have no supports intermediate the headers 32, a number oftransversely extending support members 52 are attached to the chains 40intermediate the headers 34. The support members are preferably spacedabout 3 inches from one another equally around the endless loop for thepurpose of supporting the component on the upper flat portion of theloop, since this portion of the loop is below the components. Thus, itshould be understood that the components are supported during the flatportion of travel of the headers until they are advanced around thedownstream end of the endless loop prior to being released to form thecomponent stack. In this connection, a supporting screen of the like(not shown) may be positioned beneath the lower upstream flat portion ofthe other loop defined by the chains 38 to support the components 10Awhile they are advancing to the area of the component stack.

To apply the reduced air pressure or vacuum to the headers, a flexible,non-collapsible tubing or conduit 56 is connected to each of theheaders, with the other end of the conduit being connected to one of twovacuum turrets 58 and 60. As seen in FIG. I, the elongated endless loopsdefined by the chains 38 are at a different elevation than the loopsdefined by the chains 40 so that the conduits associated with theheaders 32 do not interfere with the headers 34 associated with thechains 40. The portion of each of the vacuum turrets 58, 60 to which theflexible conduits 56 are attached is rotatable so that the conduits arefree to advance around the respective loops without becoming entangled,twisted or stretched. In this connection, it should be understood thatthe length of the conduits 56 should be sufficient to permit theirtraveling around the entire endless loop without placing them inexcessive tension which could loosen the connections as well as shortenthe effective life of the tubing.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 7 and 8, the vacuum turrets 58, 60 have respectivenon-rotatable cylindrical portions 62, 64 and respective rotatableabutting cylindrical portions 66, 68. The flexible conduits 56 areattached to the rotatable portions 66, 68 which have internal passagesthat communicate the tubing 56 to the stationary portions 62, 64.

To selectively communicate the reduced air pressure to the flexibletubes 56 and headers, the stationary cylindrical portion 62, 64 havecircular recesses 70 and 72 which communicate a generally constantvacuum or reduced air pressure originating from a source (not shown) tothe passages in the rotatable portions 66, 68. Referring to FIGS. 2, 5,7 and 8, it is seen that to advance the components 10A and 10B in thedownstream direction, the movable portion 68 associated with the headers34 move in a clockwise direction while the movable portions 66 of thevacuum turret 58 moves in a counterclockwise direction. With respect tothe vacuum applied to the recess 72, suitably adjustable barriers 74 and76 are positioned therein define a vacuum port 77 so that duringclockwise movement of the rotatable portion 68, vacuum or reduced airpressure is communicated to the flexible tubes 56 during the rotationfrom the barrier 74 clockwise to the barrier 76 and is effective to holdthe components 10B to the headers until they are released to form thestack of components 10B. After the movable portion 68 of the vacuumturret 60 reaches the barrier 76, the flexible conduits communicate witha portion 78 defined by the barrier 76 and a second barrier 80. Thisport 78 is communicated to atmospheric or greater air pressure whichtends to produce a small blast of air to the headers and thereby tendsto push the component away from the header immediately after terminationof the suction or vacuum force.

With respect to the vacuum turret 58, its stationary portion 62 also hasan annular recess 70 and a port 82 defined as the area betweenadjustable barriers 84 and 86. Vacuum is supplied to the port 82 so thatvacuum is communicated to the movable portion 66 of the turret 58 as itrotates in a counterclockwise direction as shown by the arrow in FIG. 8.A port 88 between the barrier 86 and another barrier 90 is supplied withatmospheric or greater air pressure to push the component away from theheader immediately after termination of vacuum or reduced air pressure.

To drive the chains 38 and 40 carrying the respective headers andreferring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a right angle gear box 90 is provided whichhas a shaft 92 which is connected to upstream portions of the sleevemaking apparatus. The gear box 90 is connected by means of a timing belt94 to a gear box 96 having an output shaft 98 which is connected to ashaft 100 by means of another timing belt 102. A shaft 104 associatedwith the vacuum turret 60 is driven by a gear 106 fixed to the shaft 98which meshes with gear 108 fixed to the shaft 104. The shafts 100 and104 pass through the center of the respective vacuum turrets 58, 60 andare connected to respective sprockets 42 and 46 which drive the chainsby means of shafts 120 having universal joints 122 located at oppositeends thereof. By proper selection of gear ratios within the drivecomponents, the speed of the headers is synchronized with the speed ofthe components A and 10B that are advanced to the stacking apparatus.

To rotate the turret portions 66 and 68 so that they make one completerevolution per revolution of the chains around their respectiveelongated loops, the output shaft 98 of the gear box 96 is also operablyconnected to the rotatable portions of the respective turrets 58 and 60.To drive the rotatable portion 66 of the turret 58, a timing belt 124passes around a pulley 126 which is internally connected to therotatable portion 66 such that its movement is independent of themovement of the shaft 100. The timing belt 124 is driven by a pulley 128fixed to the output shaft 98.

To drive the rotatable portion 68 of the turret 60, a gear 130 fixed tothe output shaft 98 meshes with a gear 132 which is internally connectedto the rotatable portion 68 of the vacuum turret 60. The gear 132 is notconnected to the shaft 104 and is thus free to rotate at a speeddifferent from the speed of the shaft 104. By proper selection of sizesof the pulleys 126 and 128 as well as the gear ratios of the gears 130and 132, the rotatable portions 66, 68 of the vacuum turrets aresynchronized so that the rotatable portion may make one completerevolution for each revolution of the headers around the elongatedloops. Such synchronization prevents the fiexible conduits 56 frombecoming entangled or subjected to undue tension or the like and insuresthat the reduced air pressure or vacuum is communicated as well asterminated at the proper time so that the components will be stacked asdesired.

To insure that the components are separated from the headers at theproper time and location and referring to FIG. 1, brackets 140 and 142may be provided adjacent the chains 38, 40 where the components arereleased to drop and form the respective component stacks. The brackets140, 142 have a number of outwardly extending fingers 144, 146,respectively, which are spaced apart to pass between the tubularextensions 50 of the headers and pass between the components and theouter surface of the headers so as to insure separation of the componentas the header continues its travel around the elongated loop. Alsoattached to the brackets are barrier plates 148 which are positioned tostop the horizontal movement of the component as they fall to form thestack and thus insure that the end of the stack is uniform.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 3 and 6, an elevator mechanism is provided foreach of the component stacks to maintain the top elevation of each ofthe stacks at a relatively constant elevation during their formation.The mechanisms are also operable to lower the component stacks so thatthey may be conveyed away from the stacking apparatus. To this end andreferring to the stack of components 103, the elevation mechanismassociated therewith comprises opposing pairs of chains 150 and 152which are driven by sprockets 154, 156 and 158, 160, respectively.Attached to these chains are opposing angle irons 162 which provide asupport for thin, nonflexible trays or shelves onto which the componentsare deposited into the stack. As the thickness of the stack increases,the chains are lowered until they reach the desired thickness, forexample, about 5 inches, whereupon the elevator lowers the stack, andanother support shelf or tray 164 is manually inserted to receiveadditional components. As the stacks are lowered they eventually come incontact with a conveyor defined by chains or belts 166, 168 which aresuitably driven to convey the stacks outwardly away from the elevatormechanism as shown in FIG. 6. Since the elevator and conveying mechanismfor the component stacks 111A are substantially similar to thosedescribed with respect to the component stacks 10A, and are shown tohave corresponding primed reference numbers.

To drive each of the elevator mechanisms, a preferably two directionalindependently controlled power source 170, such as a reversible electricmotor is provided and has an output shaft 172 connected to a shaft 174by means ofa timing belt 176 or the like. The shaft 174 is connected toa shaft 178 carrying the sprockets 156 by a flexible rotatable coupling180. The coupling is effective to change the direction of rotation ofthe shaft 178 relative to the shaft 174 as is required so thatmovement'of the opposing angle irons 162 are in the same direction.

Although it is not shown on the drawings, it is preferred that apneumatic sensor or the like control the power source so that theelevation of the top surface of the stacks is maintained generallyconstant. In this connection, a pneumatic sensor may be attached to thefingers 146, and thus monitor the elevation of the top of the componentsbeing stacked. When the thickness of the stack approaches 5 inches, amanual override causes the elevator to lower and another tray 164 may beinserted in position to receive added components to build another stack.

Thus, a stacking mechanism has been reached which is adapted to providereliable operation at high production speeds, and also satisfies theforegoing objects and advantages.

I claim as my invention:

1. Apparatus for stacking generally flat components each of which haveone end wider than the other and which are traveling in two adjacentrows, one of said rows having the wider end of each component leading inthe downstream direction and the second row having the shorter end ofeach component leading in the downstream direction, comprising incombination:

a plurality of transversely extending first headers movable about anendless loop and adapted to successively contact the downstream leadingend portions of the components of said first row, said endless loopbeing elongated and having generally flat upper and lower portions withsaid loop upper portion being gnerally coplanar to the components ofsaid first row as said components are advanced down stream into contactwith said first headers, said headers each having fluid passages,

means for communicating a reduced air pressure to said first headers andthe fluid passages therein for holding said contacted components againstsaid header,

means for advancing said first headers around said endless loop wherebyeach said header and component held thereby are inverted relative totheir original position,

means for terminating said reduced air pressure of said first headers ata predetermined position of each header to release the component andthereby accumulate said components in a first component stack,

a plurality of second headers movable around a second endless loopadjacent said first loop, said sec ond loop being elongated and havinggenerally flat upper and lower portions with said second loop lowerportion being generally coplanar with the components of said second rowas said components are advanced into contact with said second headers,said second headers having fluid passages and being adapted tosuccessively contact the downstream leading end portions of thecomponents of said second row,

means for applying a reduced air pressure to said second headers forholding the leading end portion of each of said contacted componentsagainst said second headers,

means for advancing said second headers about said second loop andterminating said reduced air pressure applied to said second headersafter each header has carried a component held thereby to apredetermined position so that said components are released andaccumulated in a second component stack with the wide end of each of thecomponents in said second stack being parallel to and on the same sideof said component as are the wide ends of the components of said firststack.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second headershave a number of outward hollow extensions communicating with saidpassages, said extensions being spaced apart along the length thereof,and a plurality of spaced fingers positioned adjacent each of said firstand second loops near said predetermined positions for extending betweensaid spaced hollow extensions to aid in releasing said components.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said component stacksis supported by an elevator means adapted to lower said stack as saidcomponents are placed on each of said component stacks.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim ll wherein said means for applyinga reduced air pressure to said first headers includes a first rotatableturret, a plurality of flexible conduits each connecting said turret toone of said first headers, and means for rotating said turret such thatsaid first headers make one revolution around said first loop perrevolution of said turret,

and said means for applying a reduced air pressure to said secondheaders includes a second rotatable turret, a plurality of conduits eachconnecting said second turret to one of said second headers, and meansfor rotating said second turret such that said second headers make onerevolution around said second loop per revolution of said turret.

5. A method of stacking generally flat, flexible components each havingone end that is wider than the other and traveling in two adjacent rows,one of said rows having the larger end of each component leading and theother row having the shorter end of each component leading, comprisingthe steps of:

advancing each of said components of said first row downstream intooperative relation to movable headers,

applying a reduced air pressure to said movable headers to hold theleading end portion of each component against one of said headers,

advacing said headers around an elongated, endless loop whereby eachsaid header and component are inverted relative to their originalposition, terminating said reduced air pressure at a predeterminedposition of each header to release each of said components and therebyaccumulate said components in a first component stack,

advancing each of the components of said second row downstream intooperative relation to other movable headers,

applying a reduced air pressure to said other headers to hold theleading end portion of each of said components against said headers,

advancing said other headers along a generally flat portion of a secondelongated endless path, and terminating said reduced air pressureapplied to said other headers at a predetermined position of each headerto release each of the components carried thereby and accumulate saidcomponents in a sec-' ond component stack with the wide end of each ofthe components in said second stack being parallel to and on the sameside of said component as are the wide ends of the components of saidfirst stack.

6. A method as defined in claim 5 wherein the upper portion of saidfirst loop is generally coplanar with said components as said componentsare advanced downstream into operative relation to said header.

7. A method as defined in claim 6 wherein the lower generally flatportion of said second elongated endless path is generally coplanar withsaid other components as said other components are advanced downstreamin operative relation with said other movable header.

8. Apparatus for stacking generally flat, flexible components each ofwhich have one end which is wider than the other and which are travelingin two adjacent rows, one of said rows having the wider end of eachcomponent leading in the downstream direction and the other row havingthe shorter end of each component leading in the downstream direction,comprising in combination:

a plurality of transversely extending first headers movable around anelongated, endless loop and adapted to contact the downstream leadingend portion of each of the components of said first row, said headerseach having fluid passages adapted to communicate a reduced air pressurefor holding said components thereto,

means for advancing said first headers around a portion, including thedownstream end, of said elongated endless loop and for selectivelycommunicating said reduced air pressure to said headers, and meansincluding flexible conduits connected to each of said first headers,said means being effective to hold said components until reaching apredetermined position after having inverted said components during saidadvancement, whereupon said reduced pressure is terminated to releasesaid components and form a first component stack,

a plurality of second headers movable around an elongated second loopadjacent and to one side of said first loop, said second headers beingadapted to contact the downstream leading end portion the components ofsaid second row, said second headers each having fluid passages adaptedto communicate a reduced air pressure for holding said componentsthereto,

second means for advancing said second headers wider ends of componentsof the first stack.

1. Apparatus for stacking generally flat components each of which haveone end wider than the other and which are traveling in two adjacentrows, one of said rows having the wider end of each component leading inthe downstream direction and the second row having the shorter end ofeach component leading in the downstream direction, comprising incombination: a plurality of transversely extending first headers movableabout an endless loop and adapted to successively contact the downstreamleading end portions of the components of said first row, said endlessloop being elongated and having generally flat upper and lower portionswith said loop upper portion being gnerally coplanar to the componentsof said first row as said components are advanced down stream intocontact with said first headers, said headers each having fluidpassages, means for communicating a reduced air pressure to said firstheaders and the fluid passages therein for holding said contactedcomponents against said header, means for advancing said first headersaround said endless loop whereby each said header and component heldthereby are inverted relative to their original position, means forterminating said reduced air pressure of said first headers at apredetermined position of each header to release the component andthereby accumulate said components in a first component stack, aplurality of second headers movable around a second endless loopadjacent said first loop, said second loop being elongated and havinggenerally flat upper and lower portions with said second loop lowerportion being generally coplanar with the components of said second rowas said components are advanced into contact with said second headers,said second headers having fluid passages and being adapted tosuccessively contact the downstream leading end portions of thecomponents of said second row, means for applying a reduced air pressureto said second headers for holding the leading end portion of each ofsaid contacted components against said second headers, means foradvancing said second headers about said second loop and terminatingsaid reduced air pressure applied to said second headers after eachheader has carried a component held thereby to a predetermined positionso that said components are released and accumulated in a secondcomponent stack with the wide end of each of the components in saidsecond stack being parallel to and on the same side of said component asare the wide ends of the components of said first stack.
 2. Apparatus asdefined in claim 1 wherein said first and second headers have a numberof outward hollow extensions communicating with said passages, saidextensions being spaced apart along the length thereof, and a pluralityof spaced fingers positioned adjacent each of said first and secondloops near said predetermined positions for extending between saidspaced hollow extensions to aid in releasing saiD components. 3.Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said component stacks issupported by an elevator means adapted to lower said stack as saidcomponents are placed on each of said component stacks.
 4. The apparatusas defined in claim 1 wherein said means for applying a reduced airpressure to said first headers includes a first rotatable turret, aplurality of flexible conduits each connecting said turret to one ofsaid first headers, and means for rotating said turret such that saidfirst headers make one revolution around said first loop per revolutionof said turret, and said means for applying a reduced air pressure tosaid second headers includes a second rotatable turret, a plurality ofconduits each connecting said second turret to one of said secondheaders, and means for rotating said second turret such that said secondheaders make one revolution around said second loop per revolution ofsaid turret.
 5. A method of stacking generally flat, flexible componentseach having one end that is wider than the other and traveling in twoadjacent rows, one of said rows having the larger end of each componentleading and the other row having the shorter end of each componentleading, comprising the steps of: advancing each of said components ofsaid first row downstream into operative relation to movable headers,applying a reduced air pressure to said movable headers to hold theleading end portion of each component against one of said headers,advacing said headers around an elongated, endless loop whereby eachsaid header and component are inverted relative to their originalposition, terminating said reduced air pressure at a predeterminedposition of each header to release each of said components and therebyaccumulate said components in a first component stack, advancing each ofthe components of said second row downstream into operative relation toother movable headers, applying a reduced air pressure to said otherheaders to hold the leading end portion of each of said componentsagainst said headers, advancing said other headers along a generallyflat portion of a second elongated endless path, and terminating saidreduced air pressure applied to said other headers at a predeterminedposition of each header to release each of the components carriedthereby and accumulate said components in a second component stack withthe wide end of each of the components in said second stack beingparallel to and on the same side of said component as are the wide endsof the components of said first stack.
 6. A method as defined in claim 5wherein the upper portion of said first loop is generally coplanar withsaid components as said components are advanced downstream intooperative relation to said header.
 7. A method as defined in claim 6wherein the lower generally flat portion of said second elongatedendless path is generally coplanar with said other components as saidother components are advanced downstream in operative relation with saidother movable header.
 8. Apparatus for stacking generally flat, flexiblecomponents each of which have one end which is wider than the other andwhich are traveling in two adjacent rows, one of said rows having thewider end of each component leading in the downstream direction and theother row having the shorter end of each component leading in thedownstream direction, comprising in combination: a plurality oftransversely extending first headers movable around an elongated,endless loop and adapted to contact the downstream leading end portionof each of the components of said first row, said headers each havingfluid passages adapted to communicate a reduced air pressure for holdingsaid components thereto, means for advancing said first headers around aportion, including the downstream end, of said elongated endless loopand for selectively communicating said reduced air pressure to saidheaders, and means including flexible conduits connected To each of saidfirst headers, said means being effective to hold said components untilreaching a predetermined position after having inverted said componentsduring said advancement, whereupon said reduced pressure is terminatedto release said components and form a first component stack, a pluralityof second headers movable around an elongated second loop adjacent andto one side of said first loop, said second headers being adapted tocontact the downstream leading end portion the components of said secondrow, said second headers each having fluid passages adapted tocommunicate a reduced air pressure for holding said components thereto,second means for advancing said second headers around said secondendless loop and for selectively communicating reduced air pressure tosaid second headers, said second means including other of said flexibleconduits connected to each of said headers, said second means beingeffective to hold said components during generally horizontaladvancement until reaching a predetermined position whereupon saidreduced pressure is terminated to form a second component stack withsaid components positioned with their wider edge parallel to and on thesame side of the component as are the wider ends of components of thefirst stack.